About the Author

Pete Thorpe

Alumni Ranger

Pete was a Field Guide for Londolozi for 4 years, contributing to the blog as a fantastic writer as well as photographer. Right from his very first bush trip at the age of four, Pete was always enthralled by this environment. Having grown ...

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32 Comments

on Against All Odds – Single Wild Dog Finds A Partner

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Victoria Auchincloss
Master Tracker

i love watching the wild dogs, they sometimes like children playing together and the next minute they are off running, tails in the air and Talking to each other after dinner. I hope this pair succeeds, it would be so sad if they disappear from our world. Victoria

Marinda Drake
Master Tracker

Wild dogs are my favourite predator. It is such a privelege to view this endangered species. It is fantastic news that they might den at Londolozi.

Annie.Lane07
Explorer

So very happy to hear of this pack of two and their recent successes. Wishing them well and looking forward to future updates. Thank you again for a very interesting and informative blog. Stay safe and be well.

Darlene Knott
Master Tracker

How exciting! I cannot wait to see those puppies!

Dixie Keith
Digital Ranger

Absolutely LOVE this love story! I hope ot continues successfully! In awe and amazement. Dj

Johanna Browne
Senior Digital Ranger

This is such an endearing story. I love wild dogs and their tremendous bond in their packs and how they care for the old and informed unlike other pack animals. This was the reason I was confused about a lone wild dog, so thank you for explaining this! I look forward to more tales of this pair!

Chelsea Allard
Master Tracker

Since there are only two of them, when the pups are born will the mother stay with them in the den and rely on the male to bring back food, or will she leave them to go hunting and return to them each day like a leopard?

Pete Thorpe
Alumni Ranger

Hi Chelsea,

Normally the mother in a pack would stay behind for the first few weeks to nurse the pups, while the rest go out and hunt. The others would then return to the den and regurgitate food for the mother (and the pups when they are old enough to eat meat). In this case, it is likely that the single female will remain at the den as normal while the male hunts alone. When the pups are about three weeks to a month old, there is a chance the female will also go out hunting with the male, but really time will tell!

Joan Schmiidt
Master Tracker

Pete, I have never seen wild dog at Londolozi?
But I saw them in Tanzania

Pete Thorpe
Alumni Ranger

Hi Joan,

They have massive home ranges so they are quite rare to see.

Peter

Vin Beni
Guest contributor

Hope we can follow the progress!

Mary Beth Wheeler
Guest contributor

Great story, Pete! I wish them luck and lots of puppies! Keep us posted!

Peggy Fox
Explorer

Very exciting news Pete! It also reminds me of the lone female ostrich who eventually found a mate. It would be interesting to learn if she can at least partially hear out of her former ear. But it’s likely that scar tissue has closed off her canal but maybe not? Happy Easter with hope that you are savoring the calmness of the world.

Pete Thorpe
Alumni Ranger

Hi Peggy,

It’s likely that due to the lack of an outer ear, she struggles to identify direction of sound. She is noticeably more nervous than other dogs! It’s hard to tell whether the scar tissue has closed off her hearing completely.

Peter

Susan Strauss
Digital Tracker

Ahhhh I love this – thank you for sharing, Pete

Alex McMillan
Senior Digital Ranger

Lovely to hear about the formation of the “Romeo and Juliet” pack … let’s hope they do have pups successfully!

Jayne Lackie
Explorer

That’s an uplifting story Pete. Love to hear of wild animals beating the odds. I really hope Mrs. Wild Dog decides to have her pups on Londolozi.

Gina Edwards
Explorer

That is so awesome, I hope that they will be able to keep up with the two. Do you know if any other packs Are close by where they could possibly run into each other ? After she has puppies will become a difficult time for them when is comes to hunting I hope they will be successful

Pete Thorpe
Alumni Ranger

Hi Gina,

Just a few days ago a pack of 18 dogs came through Londolozi. They only hung around for one day and as far as we are aware, didn’t bump into the pair of dogs in question. The pack of 18 seems to spend most of their time west of us, so if the pair remains central on Londolozi they should avoid any conflict!

Karen Fairbank
Explorer

Fascinating story, Pete!!!! Please keep us posted!!!

Maria Deliou
Digital Ranger

I love wild dogs. Wild dogs and cheetahs have a special place in my heart. Hopefully, a new pack will raise from this pair!! Looking forward to learning about the number of pups.

Andrew and Daniel Bolnick
Digital Tracker

Wild dogs were a definite favorite of mine. I have video of a pack feeding on an impala carcass. Very cool animals

Ann Richardson Berg
Digital Tracker

So interesting to read about the wild dog couple! I wish them a lot of luck! Hope they make their den at Londolozi!! I look forward to read more about them!

Denise Vouri
Guest contributor

I just love how their story is developing. Against all odds they met and now they are at the crossroads of beginning a new family/pack. Watching them is an adrenaline rush, sprinting after prey, catching it and then seeing them devour it in minutes. They’re not in the big five, but certainly deserve a place in the minor five!!

Pete Thorpe
Alumni Ranger

Hi Denise,

You’re right – they’re not in the big five. Some people refer to a super seven checklist when including cheetah and wild dog into the numbers. I think they should be at the top of everyone’s list!

Cheung Yc
Digital Ranger

Such lovely story , and stay safe !

Wild Dog always gets my adrenaline moving and this story is one of hope – a new pack would be a great gift and fantastic for the survival of the species

Wendy Macnicol
Digital Tracker

Super, Pete! How very, very interesting. I do hope these two overcome all the odds and produce a lovely litter of pups soon! Please keep us up-to-date with news regarding these two, will you? Thank you so much! Wendy M

Pete Thorpe
Alumni Ranger

Hi Wendy,

We will definitely e keeping everyone updated! It’s been a few days now with no sign of them, however we have had a lot of rain and tracking has been challenging… Unless they’ve settled at a den already? Time will tell!

Nicole Bernhardt
Senior Digital Ranger

Great story thank you, it will be fantastic if they stick around in the property.

Paul Canales
Master Tracker

Wow! What an amazing and captivating story. Can’t to hear of their future progress towards starting a pack!

Henk Slettenhaar
Senior Digital Ranger

I love wild dogs and I hope this couple can start a family!

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